The Windows default Snipping Tool gets the job done but leaves a lot to be desired. With limited annotation features and a lack of options, you may be looking for alternatives that will suit you better. You’re in luck, as we’ve compiled a list of several Windows screenshot tools that may have the features you need.
Tip: check out this list of programs that can capture rolling screenshots on Windows.
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1. Lightshot
Price: Free
Lightshot is a snappy and simple-to-use program that does few things but does them well. It only supports capturing screenshots (either fullscreen or a selected region), not video. Lightshot is super functional, as you don’t really need to open the app to start using it.
To start creating screenshots, press PrtScn, and select your region. As soon as you do that, the tool will display a minimal UI that allows you to save, share, or annotate the image. Some screenshot tools have the image editor open in a separate window, breaking the workflow, but that’s not the case here.
Another advantage of Lightshot is that it makes uploading and sharing super easy. Instantly do a Google image search, share on social media sites, or upload to Lightshot’s servers for sharing – all from its minimal UI. For these reasons, Lightshot is perfect for most users.
2. ShareX
Price: Free
ShareX is more like a suite of productivity tools than a simple screenshot program. It’s packed with tools like a color picker, DNS changer, and directory indexer. It has the usual region, window, and fullscreen captures, as well as a keyboard shortcut to capture the current active window, an uncommon but very useful feature. You can also use ShareX to record your screen.
Choose from many After capture and After upload tasks to fit your workflow, like scanning for text using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) or splitting or combining images. Another impressive feature is the image editor, which lets you professionally hide information with blurring and pixelate effects. Choose ShareX if you need a mature program that can do it all.
ShareX is available in a portal version or full Windows application, which you can also get from the Microsoft Store. One thing that ShareX is missing is the option to upload to a dedicated cloud server. Instead, the tool will upload your screenshots to Imgur or Dropbox (if you have an account). You won’t find that ShareX is lacking much.
FYI: Windows Snipping Tool not working? Try these fixes.
3. PicPick
Price: Free with premium options
When you open PicPick, you’ll notice the user interface looks familiar: the sidebar and ribbon interface are quite reminiscent of Microsoft Office applications. This alone makes it stand out from the other screenshot apps.
Additionally, PicPick has some interesting tools that make it a decent program for artists: a protractor to measure angles and a color palette picker. When it comes to screen capture, there are options for full screen, active window, scrolling window, region, or free hand. The whiteboard tool to annotate the entire screen before capture is useful but limited: you can only capture the full screen when using the whiteboard.
Use PicPick to create new images, not just to edit screenshots. The tool also offers a robust image editor with features such as annotations and the ability to add various effects. A downside of using PicPick is its reliance on imgsh.net, a lesser-known image-sharing site for cloud uploading images.
4. Snagit
Price: 15-day free trial with a paid plan
Snagit is a full-fledged screenshot program with the usual screenshot, video recording, editing, and sharing capabilities. Unlike other tools, it offers a few advanced options, such as capturing multiple areas, a menu, clipboard, and objects.
Snagit’s editor has a wide range of tools and settings, allowing beautiful edits to images. It also includes the ability to grab text and share the result directly to apps such as Word, PowerPoint, Dropbox, Slack, etc.
Snagit boasts a video recorder, which is as easy to use as the screenshot functionalities. While all these features are free to try out, you’ll need to sign up for a free trial to give them a spin. Once the free trial expires, you’ll need to pay for a subscription.
Tip: none of the screenshot tools here allow you to take a screenshot of the Windows login screen. Read to learn how.
5. Greenshot
Price: Free
Greenshot is an excellent free, open-source screenshot tool, that went years without being updated. Development is still active, though – albeit slow, due to time constraints, as explained in an update dating 2024. Once you install Greenshot, it will quietly sit in your tray awaiting instructions. Press the PrtScn button to start capturing a region on your screen.
One feature that stands out is its customizability. For instance, you can save images with automatically-generated file names by using variables like the date/time, name of the captured window, and your Windows user or PC name. Greenshot also includes an editor with various functions, such as the ability to blur screenshots, annotate and more.
You can change the keyboard shortcuts to open its various screen capture modes. Another cool benefit is that you always see the pixel dimensions of your screenshot (whether you use the region capture tool or window capture tool) before you take the screenshot. This all makes Greenshot the right tool for power users and professionals with specific needs.
6. Gyazo
Price: Free with premium options
Gyazo has two unique strengths: the cloud-sharing service and the Gyazo Replay feature, geared towards gamers. It’s notable that getting started is slightly annoying: you’ll need to install the program, then sign up with your email address and prove you’re not a robot.
Unlike other screenshot services, Gyazo will upload your screenshots to the cloud where you can edit them. Cloud uploading with this tool is far more private and secure: the share links are longer, encrypted, unlisted, and protected against brute force attempts. Share your screenshots with others via a link, social media, email and more. Note that there’s no option to password-protect the images in the free version.
Gyazo Replay lets you record the past few seconds – perfect if you’re a gamer and need to capture and share an epic moment. Choose Gyazo if you want a high-tech solution.
7. Monosnap
Price: Free with premium options
If you’re looking for something you can use at work, check out Monosnap. It has a wide array of different integrations, including DigitalOcean spaces. Start snapping screenshots by clicking on the Monosnap icon that appears in the right corner after installation.
The program offers options to capture an area or fullscreen, as well as the ability to edit the resulting screenshots. You can also record your screen. The program supports many upload options, including FTP and AWS S3. Additionally, some of the paid options include privacy and team-management controls to make it a worthy solution for businesses.
8. Screenrec
Price: Free
Screenrec is a free screenshot and screen-recording program. The primary draw of Screenrec is its ability to create a publicly shareable link to the captured image or video by first uploading it to the cloud. The upload and sharing experience is very fast, as was the overall program UI.
To start capturing, use the Alt + S key combination, or click the floating menu on the right, then proceed to take your screenshot, which will be uploaded to the cloud (if you signed up with an account). The tool shows you the exact dimensions of the screenshot you’re about to snap, which is handy. Minimally edit the screenshot with Screenrec’s built-in tools. There’s also the option to do a screen recording.
Region capture appears to be the only mode that will take screenshots – there is no window or fullscreen capture! While this tool is one of the easiest and simplest to use, it may lack the specific capabilities you need.
9. Zight
Price: 14-days free trial with a paid plan
Zight is a screenshot tool that can be perfect for teams working together. Add your team members when you sign up for a free trial, then open the Zight dashboard to do things like capture a screenshot, record a video/GIF or make annotations.
Once you’ve captured a screenshot, it will automatically be updated into the cloud, and a sharing link will become available. Zight only lets you take a screenshot of a selected area or the entire viewable area. Additionally, there’s an option for delayed screenshots
Since it’s a tool designed for the professional environment, Zight integrates with various apps your team probably uses, such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Confluence, and more. Workers are bound to appreciate the tool’s clean interface and simple yet effective functionality.
Some of these solutions are also available on mobile. Gyazo can be downloaded on both Android and iOS, but is extremely limited. Zight is only available on iOS, and is more about allowing you to organize your photos into collections. It still includes the option to screen record, however. Looking to take screenshots on your Chromebook? We have solutions for that, too.
All images and screenshots by Alexandra Arici
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Alexandra Arici –
Staff Writer
Alexandra is passionate about mobile tech and can be often found fiddling with a smartphone from some obscure company. She kick-started her career in tech journalism in 2013, after working a few years as a middle-school teacher. Constantly driven by curiosity, Alexandra likes to know how things work and to share that knowledge with everyone.
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